There are few places where history and horizon meet so effortlessly. Rising above the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay, The Algonquin Resort has long stood as a grand gesture of Maritime hospitality; a timeless landmark built in 1889 where generations have gathered to experience the beauty of St. Andrews by-the-Sea. Its reawakening as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection preserves that storied spirit while reimagining it through the language of contemporary design. Every space, historic yet forward-looking, rooted yet refined, tells a story shaped by light, craft, and the enduring rhythm of the sea.
The transformation of The Algonquin Resort marks a dialogue between legacy and modernity; an interior reinvention that honours its origins while shaping a new standard for coastal luxury. mackaywong approached this project as both preservation and progression, revealing the layered character of the property through material honesty, narrative depth, and spatial clarity.
Public Spaces were reconceived as the connective tissue of the guest experience; social, storied, and sensorial. The lobby now unfolds a warm maritime sculptural welcome hall, defined by warm hardwoods, brass detailing, and a bespoke ceiling installation inspired by the sardine fleets that once shimmered across Passamaquoddy Bay. The design composition merges art and architecture: hand-blown glass, polished chrome, and river-stone forms suspended in motion, an homage to the coastal industry that built this town. Surrounding lounges and verandas reinterpret the resort’s Tudor Revival bones with renewed proportion and purpose, balancing heritage millwork with contemporary furnishings in natural fabrics and maritime tones.
Across the property’s food and beverage venues, each concept was designed as a distinct spatial narrative. Braxton’s evokes the elegance of a yacht’s salon; navy lacquered trim, rich walnut, and a palette that drifts between sunrise coral and open-sea blue. The Right Whale Pub reclaims its place as the community’s gathering dock, where layers of dark oak, tweed, and vintage photography create a grounded, nostalgic atmosphere. At The Clubhouse, overlooking the resort’s famed golf course, the design celebrates the culture of the game through architecture that opens fully to the landscape; broad verandas, brass-detailed millwork, and sun-drenched interiors that transform from morning light to golden hour.
The guestroom experience completes the narrative with a tone of quiet restraint, substance and style. Here, material palettes lighten the mood where soften washed oak, woven linens, and maritime blues conjure a sense of serenity that mirrors the seascape beyond each arched window. The spaces are composed for calm and renewal, with furniture selections that balance classic craftsmanship and contemporary ease. In the Painter Wing Terrace Suites, the architecture extends seamlessly outdoors with firepits, natural stone, and teak loungers.
Every decision, every line, material, and proportion was guided by the resort’s dual identity as both heritage landmark and design-forward destination. As part of the Autograph Collection, The Algonquin now embodies what it has always promised: an experience that is as storied as it is sophisticated. A place where architecture and atmosphere converge to tell one continuous story: the enduring dialogue between sea, sky, and the spirit of St. Andrews by-the-Sea.
Phase 1 Guestrooms complete. Phase 2 Public Spaces in progress and to be completed in Q1 of 2027.
Guestroom Photography via InnVest Hotels
